The Ohio State Buckeyes' defense was almost flawless against Texas, but now the challenge is building off of that foundation.
It's a tale of two different weekends in Columbus.
Just seven days ago, nearly every single eyeball in college football was watching the matchup between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Texas Longhorns. The Buckeyes outlasted the Longhorns in an old-school bout and reclaimed their spot at the top of the polls.
Now, as the No. 1 team in the nation, Ohio State has a new challenge on its hands, welcoming in the Grambling State Tigers at the Horseshoe. Coming off a season-opening win of their own, the Tigers are Ohio State's first FCS opponent since Youngstown State in 2023.
This game lacks the juice that surrounded Week 1, but it does not lack the urgency. It is a huge weekend for the Buckeyes to continue improving, specifically on defense.
Ohio State won last week against Texas mainly because the defense put on a situational clinic. It used NFL-style schemes to confuse Arch Manning, and when the Buckeyes' backs were against the wall, they put together two goal-to-go stops inside the 5-yard line. It was good, but it wasn't perfect.
Here is what each position group needs to improve upon against Grambling.
Defensive Line
The Buckeyes' defensive line is certainly not what it was last year... at least not yet. Last week, Texas rushed for 166 yards on 34 carries, good for 4.5 yards per attempt; that's simply not good enough up front. If Carnell Tate didn't make a heroic catch and Ohio State didn't stop the Longhorns' fourth-down quarterback sneak, this defensive line would be under much scrutiny.
Linebackers
Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese were everything the Buckeyes could have hoped for and more. For them, "improve" isn't the right word to use; "maintain" and "elevate" are more appropriate. Accomplishing both of those goals starts with staying healthy. Other than that, they need to continue to do their jobs. It's about getting better in their run fits, flying to the football, and causing problems for opposing offenses.
Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Jermaine Mathews Jr. (7) celebrates his interception of Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) in the third quarter of their game at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio on Aug 30, 2025. Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesSafeties
Similar to the linebacking core, the safety group led by Caleb Downs was a true strong spot for the Buckeyes. Downs is an exceptional talent with a special mind, somebody who 97.1 The Fan's Beau Bishop described this week as the Ed Reed of the Buckeyes. If he is even half of what Reed was, then he will be an all-time great. For this group, the challenge is continuing to elevate. Don't allow big plays over the top and follow No. 2's lead.
Cornerbacks
Depth is the name of the game for the corners. Davison Igbinosun and Jermaine Mathews Jr. were both quite good for Ohio State in Week 1. After them, the second and third stringers weren't perfect. You'll never be perfect in the game of football, and certainly not at the cornerback position. With that said, Saturday is an opportunity for the Buckeye secondary's depth to develop and prove that they can do it at this level.
Saturday's game is not a contest against the scoreboard, but one to uphold the Buckeye standard. This team has aspirations of another championship, and weeks like this reveal what title hopefuls are made of.